Choosing Friends

Baby Bella is a respecter of persons. No, really. I know it's not politically correct and violates our carefully crafted theology - but Baby Bella picks and chooses her friends carefully.

Meet Ms. Lane. Baby Bella's Academy BFF. It didn't take long for Baby Bella to find her special someone at The Academy. Ms. Lane and Baby Bella have had a special bond since day one. And Ms. Lane isn't shy about telling you - Baby Bella is her girl too.

How nice is it, as a parent, to leave your princess with someone that is as excited to see as your child as you are. And someone who celebrates the princess status of our little angel.

Thanks, Ms. Lane. Couldn't do it without you.

Knee Sleep

We thought it was adorable when she did for the first time on August 6, 2009. We find it no less adorable in June of 2010. What's old is new again for Baby Bella.

We are learning to not use phrases like - she's evolved, she's moved on, she's grown out of that, she's progressed... we are finding that sometimes it's just a temporary departure from her comfort zone. And that she reserves the right to revisit old habits without advance notice.

Rock on, Baby girl. The world is your oyster.

Lovie for My Love

Baby Bella was busy multi tasking her way across the floor yesterday. She was carrying her lovie while pushing her baby doll in the stroller.

You will notice in the second photo that her hair seems to be standing straight out to the side. That is because she was had quit walking with the stroller and had started running. Her hair was blowing in the wind.

Baby Bella is starting to become a lovie / blanket girl. She loves to snuggle with our blanket and now insists on having her blanket to fall asleep at night. She spends the first few minutes of the day playing with her blanket in the crib.

Like Mother, Like Daughter - purely adorable.

Good Report

Daddy and Baby Bella strike a pose in front of the mural at the pediatricians office. Baby Bella received a clean bill of health. Woot, Woot!

A Tale of Two Sunday's

Baby Bella had a girls day with Ms. Brandi while Mommy, Daddy, and Skyler took a day trip to the new and (much) improved Nashville Shores.

The girls had a magnificent day, as evidenced by the happy and balanced Baby Bella we returned home to embrace. She was all smiles and full of hugs for the whole fam.

As for the rest of us - let's just say we left park with Season Passes. A fabulous outing that close to home is just what the doctor ordered. We are certain Baby Bella will appreciate the wading pool and lazy river.

You just gotta love summer.

Stairmaster

A new Baby Bella record in the 15 stair climb.....

Baby Bella has successfully climbed all 15 stairs in 45 seconds. Wow, this girl is going places - and fast.

In fact, she almost went down the stairs in under three seconds - I caught her just before she took a head first plunge from the top. The rescue nearly sent both of us down the stairs in under three seconds.

That near calamity prompted me to teach her the "go down backward method." I admit to being biased but this blows my mind. I showed her once how to go down backward and she immediately followed suite. And continued to climb and retreat until my nerves could no longer stand to watch.

And so I ponder this great theological question. Why is it that children learn how to climb and retreat stairs with one simple instruction but take years to potty train? Whoever said God doesn't have a sense of humor must not have had kids.

Nightly Rituals

Gone are the days when we simply provide a warm bottle of milk and Baby Bella rewards us with a quick nod into the dream world fit for a Princess. In recent days, we have found ourselves in a nightly ritual or process.

First, Baby Bella wants to love on Skyler. "Love on" is a euphemism for slap, tackle, tickle, wrestle, and laugh.

Next, she sets her sights on Daddy. She crawls over, gets in my face - as if to say "watch me, not the TV." Having properly adored her, she then crawls over and lays her head in Mommy's lap. Mommy plays with her beautiful blonde curls until the Princess is at last in dream land.

I have never believed in reincarnation - but if I did, I would want to come back as Baby Bella. What a life this girl lives.

Summer Morning

Baby Bella and Daddy take time to pose in front of the Crepe Myrtle while watering the flowers. My little Petunia loves for me carry her around during watering - she likes to stick her fingers in the water hose to make it splash her face.

The heavy rains have been good for the Crepe Myrtles, Hydrangea's, Geraniums, Roses, and Stella D' Ora Day Lily's. (flowers are easier to grow than spell.) This is our best year yet - both front and back yard landscape. Yeah!

Maybe it's the rain, maybe it's the sun or maybe it's that the third year is a charm. I prefer to think it's that my children have inherited my gift for gardening. Skyler helped dig and plant almost everything in the yard and Baby Bella seems to love watering them. I suspect she has some special ingredient on the end of her fingers that give the plants the magic they need. It must be that because she insists on making the water bounce off of her hand before hitting the flowers.

Morning Routine

Ah, what a difference a year makes. Baby Bella has perfected the most adorable, yet helpful, morning routine. No longer do we wake to panicky screams or loud cries. Now days we wake to the soft coos of a content Princess.

It begins with a sigh that says "I'm wake." Followed closely by intense stretching and rolling. Then she grabs the blanket, sits up against the rail of the crib and soft caresses the fringe of the blanket.

Ten to twenty minutes later she will crawl over to the front rail, climb up, and announce her desire to be picked up. She will generally have a seat and continue fidgeting with the blanket after her first call. That buys us enough time to warm a cup of milk before picking her up.

If by some chance we do not heed the first request - then the wrath of Baby Bella descends upon the House of Cain. But generally we know that we have roughly thirty to forty minutes to get things done after we hear the morning sigh.

What a delightful way to start the day. If, that is, you have the luxury to allowing her to wake on her own. She isn't the type that likes to be awakened on someone else's schedule and rushed into the morning.

Dare I say it, yet another way she is like Grandma Cain.

Role Models

Baby Bella was honored to attend the wedding reception of Matthew and Cara King this weekend. She is pictured here with Matthew's sister, Mary Beth.

The reception prompted a trip down memory lane while ushering me full speed ahead to Baby Bella's future. I recall teaching Matthew and Mary Beth in Sunday School - and yes, in the Baby Bella Blog tradition of full disclosure - I might remember a thing or two they did that I wouldn't put on Bella's bucket list.

That said - I am grateful that Skyler and Bella have people like Matthew and Mary Beth in their life. I cannot think of two better role models for my kids. As parents, you try to surround your kids with enough examples that the key elements of faith, values, and integrity become as precious to them as they are to you.

I am beginning to see this "circle of life" thing that I have been hearing about all of my life. I teach kids - they grow up to teach my kids - my kids grow up to teach their kids....

Maybe, just maybe, that is why God made the earth a giant circle - we are all connected. I am feeling pretty good about my circle, thanks to Matthew and Mary Beth. Hats off to the two of you. And Cara, welcome to circle.

If the World Gives You Lemons...

...squeeze them for your first taste of lemon juice.

Baby Bella boldly stepped up to taste the lemon but quickly decided it wasn't her preference. Oh well....next up, tomatoes. If only we had some of Uncle Frank's world famous gourmet tomatoes.

Ok, I admit, that did sound like a shameless request for tomatoes. Truth be told, it was just the ramblings of one worn out Dad who was too tired to rewrite the post.

Playin'

Nothing like a Sunday afternoon to just play. Baby Bella made the most of her play time while Daddy worked a convention.

I Can Do It!

or "Back up, Jack!"

Baby Bella has decided she no longer needs our help to lay out the correct portion for snacks such as Puffs, Biter Biscuits, apples, and carrots. No, she has announced, as only she can, that she prefers to put her hand in the container and serve herself.

The upside...she'll reward you with a flirty smile for letting her have her way. Most days - it's totally worth it.

First Steps!!!!

Baby Bella shocked us all by taking her first few steps today. Ms. Lane said she took four or five steps during the day and she took a couple of steps for Mommy and I this evening.

Very, very exciting to see Baby Bella taking her first steps. Me thinks it's time to Bella Proof the house.

I'll Drink to That

Baby Bella continues to expand her beverage horizons - her assortment now includes milk, juice, Gatorade, and the occasional sip of ice tea from a straw. She is a bit of a social drinker - she prefers to crawl around on the floor with her cup and drink from various locations.

Throw in a little game of hide n seek from under the table and Baby Bella is all smiles.